The M57 is a water-cooled and turbocharged inline six cylinder diesel engine with common-rail-injection.

[1] The injection pressure is 1,350 bar (19,600 psi)[2] in the non TÜ engine, whilst all other engines use a pressure of 1,600 bar (23,000 psi).

[2] The common-rail-system is made by Bosch and also controlled by a Bosch DDE 4 ECU for non TÜ and DDE 5 ECU for TÜ.

The 2.9L M57, which is found in E39 530d and E38 730d, as well as early models of E46 330d and E53 X5, is equipped with one Garrett GT2556V turbocharger.

[5] Every cylinder has two inlet and two exhaust valves as well as two chain-driven overhead camshafts.